System for Reducing Fuel Consumption in Vehicles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system for reducing fuel consumption in vehicles. According to the invention, fuel consumption is reduced by minimizing the aerodynamic resistances generated as the vehicle moves forward. The inventive system consists in conveying air to the rear or stern of the vehicle whereat a depression is known to form. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said air is conveyed using a tubular casing ( 9 ) which is fixed to the rear part of the vehicle roof and which bends slightly towards the rear end. The air is channeled from the upper part of the forward-moving vehicle and is released at the low-pressure stern area, said depression serving as a suction means which facilitates the passage of the air. The outlet ( 11 ) is oriented towards, but does not extend to the top of the rear doors.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

As expressed in the title of this specification, the present invention refers to a system for reducing fuel consumption in vehicles, which implies a new process for achieving the purpose being sought, by means of the reduction of aerodynamic resistance that implies the depression that is caused in the rear part of the vehicle in its movement forward.

The basic operating principle lies on the fact of collecting air from the surroundings of the vehicle and adequately channeling it to the desired area, in the rear part in order to counteract the depression created during movement.

Among the advantages that are chosen the system object of the invention, we can cite the following ones:

-   -   Reduction of aerodynamic resistance     -   Thus, reduction of fuel consumption     -   Simplicity of the structure thereof     -   Easy installation and replacement     -   Other systems for reducing fuel consumption may be combined with         this system.     -   Countless versions, adaptations on the use and characteristics         of the vehicle where it is going to be installed     -   It does not hamper the opening of the rear doors or the truck         driver's operations.     -   It is a solid, reliable, robust and efficient system.     -   It is not necessary to dismount or modify its structure in order         to open the door, since it is a permanent fixed system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Systems for reducing fuel consumption in vehicles are basically devised to minimize the aerodynamic resistance that is implied by front surfaces during the forward movement of the vehicle, offering noteworthy resistance to the air flow. Therefore, the rear and the front of the vehicle are occupied and there are basically deflectors that are placed on the casing, as well as side and bottom flaps placed therein. The results that are obtained are noteworthy since about 10% of the fuel are saved, as long as the system is used adequately.

Other methods currently existing to reduce fuel consumption a dismountable body that takes up a large part of the space where the depression is formed are placed on the rear of the vehicle. These methods have several serious inconveniences among which we can cite the following ones:

-   -   They are weak, fragile and not very secure     -   They are hardly efficient in the terms of saving fuel (<4%).     -   They are extremely difficult to put in place or replace     -   They extremely hamper the opening of the rear doors and the work         of the truck driver. It is necessary to dismount the device in         order to open the doors.     -   They are not fixed systems.         -   Systems that place flaps in the side of the vehicle or the             body or trailers are also known for the same purpose, but             they also have the inconvenience of being fragile, easy to             break and not very secure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In general lines, the system to reduce fuel consumption in vehicles that the invention proposed, achieve the reduction of aerodynamic resistance and thus reduces fuel consumption, causing the air in the rear part of the vehicle where the pressure caused in forward motion is produced.

This air supply is achieved by means of a device placed on the top, in the rear part and it proves to be surrounding the top edge of the rear part of the vehicle, without achieving the level of the door. This device is materialized by a tubular casing that channels that air that is absorbed by the mouth or front part and expels it towards the low pressure area of the rear.

The outlet faces downward and the inlet has a smaller section than the outlet in order to prevent high pressures.

Some rigidization ribs placed longitudinally and uniformly distributed along the width of the vehicle have also been provided for. In order to prevent pressure differences in the tubular casing as formed, the cited ribs include holes or openings to balance the pressures.

In order to understand the characteristics of the invention and forming an integral part of this specification, some drawings in whose figures the following has been represented in an illustrative and non-restrictive manner are accompanied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a raised schematic longitudinal view that shows a moving vehicle and the depression area that is formed behind it.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are respective perspective views that show different normal ways to reduce aerodynamic resistance in the front part of the vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a partial and perspective view of the rear part of the vehicle, whose stern wall includes some plates to reduce the aerodynamic resistance in a conventional manner.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are respective plan and raised longitudinal views of a vehicle whose rear part has a pyramid for this same purpose of reducing aerodynamic resistance and precisely to avoid turbulence in the rear part during the forward movement of the vehicle, according to a conventional embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a partial and perspective view of another vehicle that includes conventionally in its sides, some flaps for the same purpose of reducing aerodynamic resistance.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 respective plan, profile and front raised views of the tubular casing that is mounted on the vehicle in a fixed manner, defining a system for reducing the fuel consumption upon reducing aerodynamic resistance caused in the forward movement thereof, according to the invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of one of the reinforcement ribs that are included in the tubular casing of FIGS. 9 to 11.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Making reference to the numbering used in the figures and specifically in relation to FIG. 1, we can see a vehicle (1) that moves forward in the direction shown by the arrow and that causes a depression area in its rear area. The depression area is generally referred to as number (2).

FIGS. 2 to 4 show some of the current systems to reduce fuel consumption in vehicles, adding in the top part of the body some deflectors that deflect the air to reduce the front surface of aerodynamic resistance. FIG. 2 shows an oblique screen (3) that carries out this task; FIG. 3 shows a body (4) that is in charge of deviating the air and FIG. 4 shows more clearly the mounting of an aerodynamic frame (5).

In connection with FIG. 5, as an example a system that places plates (6) arranged perpendicularly to the walls of the rear of the vehicle is shown such as only placing two plates (6), or even three, in order not to close the rectangular perimeter.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the assembly of a pyramid (7) in the rear of the vehicle. Regarding this system there are also numerous versions such as reducing the size of the pyramid or even the shape thereof, truncating the pyramid itself, placing only the walls of the truncated pyramid, etc. All these systems are fragile and not secure, although the biggest inconvenience is that they are not fixed and they have to be removed in order to open the back doors. Even most of them are built without very strong materials such as canvas, fabric or even plastics, placed on aluminum, plastic or at times wooden rods.

Making reference to FIG. 8, we can see a conventional way of mounting some flap type sheets (8) in the sides of the vehicle, cabin or trailer, for this purpose of reducing aerodynamic resistance, but it also has the inconvenience that they are fragile, easily broken and not secure.

Now then, the system to reduce fuel consumption in vehicles, that the invention proposes, just as it is s schematically shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, consists of placing in the rear part of the roof a tubular casing (9) that turns towards the rear front of the vehicle, without reaching the height of the rear doors, with a inlet mouth (10) of air during the forward movement of the vehicle. This air comes out through the rear part of this casing (9) whose outlet is directed downward, precisely towards the area where the depression (2) that we commented on in FIG. 1 is caused. Reference 11 designates the outlet of the tubular casing (9). The depression itself formed in the rear part of the vehicle acts as a suction of air that occupies the top part of the vehicle and that enters through the mouth (10). The side-walls of the tubular casing (9) are curved-convex to channel more easily the entering air and not offering resistance (see FIG. 10).

Reference (12) designates some rigidization ribs of the horizontal walls of the tubular casing, one being able to see in FIG. 12 the geometric shape of these reinforcement ribs (12) provided in this preferred embodiment, with some openings (13) in the bottom part for the purpose of balancing the pressures of all the tubular casings formed between different ribs.

With this arrangement, the system for reducing the fuel consumption in vehicles that the invention proposes, has the following characteristics:

-   -   It is permanently fixed     -   It is secure (placed strongly with anchors following current         regulations).     -   Resistant (its materials also comply with the current         regulations).     -   It is a sole robust and efficient piece.     -   It is not necessary to dismount or mount it in order to open the         rear doors.         -   It has effectiveness closed to 9% in fuel reduction.         -   It is ideal to combine with other systems (in combination a             savings of 14%) may be achieved.         -   The tubular casing (9) upon having a considerable size             (around 2.5 meters) precisely needs these reinforcement ribs             so that they do not sag. Upon having holes or an opening             (13) to ensure the balance of the pressure of the entire             inside. Upon the outlet being in the rear and thanks to the             depression that is formed behind the vehicle, circulation is             not interrupted. This depression phenomenon, upon draw air             from the suction mount (10) of the tubular casing (9) in             turn causes the boundary turbulent layer created on the roof             of the body or trailer of the truck is restrained, in turn             reducing the induced resistance and from friction.         -   It can be considered that the system to reduce fuel             consumption that the invention proposed causes the             reductions of resistance.     -   Reduction of the resistance induced by the delay of the         turbulent boundary layer on the roof of the cabin or trailer.     -   Reduction of the area of low pressure in the rear.     -   Reduction of the turbulence created by the forward movement of         the vehicle. 

1. SYSTEM FOR REDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTION IN VEHICLES, minimizing the aerodynamic resistance caused in the forward motion of vehicle, wherein it consists of providing air to the rear part or stern of the vehicle where causes a depression as a result of forward motion.
 2. SYSTEM FOR REDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTION IN VEHICLES, according to claim 1, wherein the supply of air is achieved by placing on the rear part of the roof of the vehicle and surrounding towards the front rear thereof, a tubular structure of casing (9) acting as a funnel taking the air from the top part of the vehicle during forward motion the and channels it balancing it to the low pressure area of the stern.
 3. SYSTEM FOR REDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTION IN VEHICLES, according to claim 1, wherein the outlet (11) is directed downward and the inlet has a smaller section that the outlet to prevent high pressures.
 4. SYSTEM FOR REDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTION IN VEHICLES, according to claim 1, wherein the top and bottom walls of the tubular frame (9) are connected to reinforcement ribs.
 5. SYSTEM FOR REDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTION IN VEHICLES, ACCORDING to claim 4, wherein said reinforcement ribs (12) are vertical plates welded to the horizontal walls and provided with holes or openings (13) to balance the pressures in the tunnels or chambers formed between them. 